AFTER seven months of ups and downs Morton are three quarters of the way to clinching a return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

There is plenty of football still to be played but with nine games left the Greenock men have hit the front in the League One title race and they hold their destiny in their own hands.

Like a thoroughbred peaking at just the right time in the season, Jim Duffy’s side have struck a rich vein of form and they will now look to keep their nose in front.

The management team and the players deserve every bit of credit coming their way at the moment, having built an impressive eight-match unbeaten run.

They have faced a series of difficult hurdles, several of them away from home, and to come through such a challenging set of fixtures on top of the pile speaks volumes about their character.

Now two points clear at the summit, they will bid for a third win in a week tomorrow when they welcome Forfar to Cappielow.

The sequence began last Saturday with a fine 3-1 victory over Peterhead at Balmoor — an outcome which looked unlikely when the hosts took the lead after the interval via a dubious penalty award.

Crucially, the visitors got themselves back in the game quickly before calmly picking off Jim McInally’s side with two excellent late counter attacks.

They then faced what looked like a more straightforward proposition in midweek when a blanket of snow cleared in time for them to take on rock bottom Stirling at Cappielow.

The 4-0 scoreline leaves the impression it was every bit as easy as the league table would suggest, but in reality it was a lot more complicated.

Stuart McLaren’s visitors settled much the better of the two teams and went on to carve out a series of gilt-edged chances that had the Cowshed watching proceedings through the cracks between their fingers.

Their team had Derek Gaston to thank for keeping the scoreline blank, as he repelled a series of attacks mounted by the impressive Binos, who belied their lowly league position.

But as the chances slipped away one by one, the sense was that the sucker punch would not be long in arriving at the other end.

So it proved, Stefan McCluskey netting very proficiently after some typically enterprising dynamic wing play by Declan McManus.

Goalkeeper Gaston would be forced into action again before the break but the outcome was never in doubt thereafter as Stirling’s heads went down. Their state of mind was understandable following their sustained period of early dominance, and Morton took full advantage.

McCluskey deserved his moment in the limelight with two further strikes in the second half before teeing McManus up to thunder in a fourth goal.

The match underlined the importance of having players who are able to take their chances and find the back of the net.

McCluskey is now pitching in with goals, adding to his well-established appetite for hard work, new boy Ross Caldwell has proved a real handful since his arrival and the threat of McManus is well documented. Morton’s comparative embarrassment of riches up front was simply reinforced when they were able to replace Caldwell with substitute Peter MacDonald, right, a player who would walk into the starting 11 of most Championship outfits.

Their forward options could well prove to be decisive in the title race but it would be wrong to underestimate the vital part being played by the players at the other end of park.

The defence has been sturdy and stout in recent times, conceding only four goals in what has been the team’s toughest spell of the season.

The combination of an effective attack and a resilient rearguard could prove fatal to the hopes of Ton’s fellow promotion challengers, who have been finding the going heavy of late.

Stranraer, leaders for so long, have lost two out of the last three and now find themselves chasing.

Brechin have been on a great run but they were held at home in midweek by a struggling Dunfermline team who are out with the washing as far as the title is concerned and slowly slipping out of play-off contention as well.

Sitting just behind City are tomorrow’s visitors to Sinclair Street.

Forfar will be desperate to get themselves back in the mix, and like their Angus neighbours they do hold a game in hand.

Dick Campbell’s men felt a bit hard done by when they lost 2-1 to Ton at Station Park at the end of January and come to Cappielow knowing that defeat would leave them nine points off the pace.

This alone may be enough to encourage them to come forward and it’s a strategy which could suit Morton, who have not always relished playing teams who come to sit in and stay tight.

Confidence can only be high in the home camp but the wisened voice of their manager will stress the importance of keeping the momentum up and avoiding any complacency.

Morton have fought hard over the last couple of months to get to where they are.

They will not want to take their eye off the ball at this crucial juncture.

TEAM LATEST MICHAEL Miller was the only real doubt at the time of going to press after suffering a recurrence of the knee problem that saw him subbed at Brechin City three weeks ago.

Jim Duffy felt Joe McKee, pictured, wasn’t quite himself after his recent car accident and decided to replace him after 23 minutes against Stirling Albion on Tuesday, but he says the midfielder has looked bright and sharp in training since and will be involved in the matchday squad tomorrow.

TRAVEL NOTES THE Albert Hotel Morton Supporters’ bus for tomorrow’s Scottish League One match against Forfar Athletic at Cappielow will leave the hotel at 2.30pm.

Prices are £3 for adults return and £2 for concessions return. There’s no need to pre-book and all are welcome.

The club are also taking bookings for the bus to the Excelsior Stadium for the Scottish League One match against Airdrie the following Saturday.

The bus will leave the hotel at 1.30pm. All are welcome with pick-ups available en-route. To book a seat call or text Jim on 07983 600945.